Author: Ryan Baldry, Communications Manager

The Government’s upcoming Development Strategy is the ideal opportunity to continue building on the foundations of what Global Britain stands for. We’ve seen the overall strategy announced through the Integrated Review as well as the Defence Review. But the third part of this had been missing – until now. We have an incredible chance to define what the UK will stand for on the world stage and how we will use our world leading arsenal of soft-power and development expertise to be a true force for good in the world whilst also helping to secure our own national interest.

The Integrated Review stated that the UK must play a key role in shaping the open international order of the future. To do this we must draw on our values of democracy, human rights and fairness as we continue to address Global issues. Global Britain should prioritise the promotion, strengthening and acceleration of democracy as a core foreign policy goal. As a democrat, something that should worry all of us is that Democracy around the world is in retreat; for the first time since 2001, autocracies became the majority in 2020 covering 68% of the world’s population. Nationalist-populist orders dominate several of the countries wielding the greatest military, economic and political influence, including China, Brazil, India, and Turkey. The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly accelerated this rise in authoritarianism, prompting 89 countries to make emergency declarations, while many have imposed measures affecting freedoms of expression, assembly and privacy.

The relationship between peace, democracy and human rights is evident – and as the world becomes more violent, less democratic and less respectful of human rights at a macro and micro level, it is clear a new UK foreign policy approach is needed which is able to adapt to and counter this worrying trend. At a time when the UK’s role in the world is being redefined, an active defence strategy alongside an effective and adaptable development budget, keeps Britain at the forefront of saving lives, alleviating poverty, and bringing freedom, security and prosperity to those who need it most.

Earlier this year, the Coalition for Global Prosperity conducted polling of Conservative and Liberal Democrat marginal constituencies which showed that a majority of voters said that the UK being a leader in international aid makes the UK a safer place to live – 69% agreed – and makes the world a safer place – 79% agreed. The public understand that UK leadership on the world stage not only helps boost our own prosperity and security but that it is important for building security and prosperity globally.

In the face of China’s belt and roads initiative and the diplomatic games being played around vaccine distribution from Russia and China, the UK must not lose sight of the threat that is posed by allowing these nations to gain footholds in the world’s more vulnerable nations. In areas where populations are desperate for infrastructure, COVID vaccinations or investment, if we do not provide services and expertise along with the encouragement and building blocks for democratic reforms or security then we will allow more people to fall victim to the politics of debt, autocracy and restraints on human rights.

Global Britain is and should always remain a beacon of hope for countless individuals and communities around the globe. Whether it is providing aid after natural disasters, providing security after conflict or investing in key pieces of infrastructure to allow local businesses and farmers to flourish, we are a well-respected force for good in the world. The Government’s Development Strategy needs to build on this by ensuring that we have the best tools at our disposal for tackling the issues of today but also the crises of tomorrow.